Chaseling v TVH Australasia Pty Ltd

District Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Chaseling v TVH Australasia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWDC 24

Hearing dates:

21, 22 & 23 February 2011

Decision date:

15 April 2011

Before:

Levy SC DCJ

Decision:

1.Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $712,275;

2.The defendant is to pay the plaintiff's costs on the ordinary basis unless otherwise ordered;

3.The exhibits may be returned;

4.Liberty to apply on 7 days notice if further orders are required.

[Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.]

Catchwords:

TORTS - negligence - motor vehicles -- palletted load of boxes dislodged from tynes of forklift truck reversing down a portable ramp whilst unloading a shipping container - injury to plaintiff standing nearby - load dislodged and fell on plaintiff - whether due to negligence of driver - whether there was contributory negligence - whether injury occurred during or in the use or operation of a motor vehicle within meaning of s 3 of the Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999;
DAMAGES - assessment of heads of damage claimed by plaintiff

Legislation Cited:

Motor Accidents Compensation Act 1999, s 3
Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998

Cases Cited:

Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v GSF Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 26; (2005) 221 CLR 658
Graham v Baker [1961] HCA 48; (1961) 106 CLR 340
Haines v Bendall [1991] HCA 15; (1991) 172 CLR 60
Inasmuch Community v Bright & Anor [2008] NSWCA 99
JA & BM Bowden & Sons Pty Ltd v Doughty [2009] NSWCA 82
Medlin v State Government Insurance Commission [1995] HCA 5; (1995) 182 CLR 1
Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254
Nominal Defendant v GLG Australia Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 11; (2006) 228 CLR 529
State of NSW v Moss [2000] NSWCA 133
Tchen v Nominal Defendant [2010] NSWCA 245
Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] 223 CLR 442
Zotti v Australian Associated Motor Insurers Limited [2009] NSWCA 323

Texts Cited:

-

Category:

Principal judgment

Parties:

Paul Chaseling (Plaintiff)
TVH Australasia Pty Limited (Defendant)

Representation:

Mr M Perry (Plaintiff)
Mr PN Khandhar (Defendant)
Taylor & Scott (Plaintiff)
Hicksons (Defendant)

File Number(s):

2009/336695

Publication restriction:

No

Judgment

Table of Contents

A.	INTRODUCTION
Nature of the case	[1]
Issues	[2] - [3]
Credit	[4]
Summary of findings	[5]
Assessed heads of damage	[6]
B.	FACTUAL BACKGROUND
Facts	[7] - [64]
Plaintiff's personal history	[8] - [9]
Circumstances of injury to the plaintiff	[10] - [17]
Injuries	[18] - [19]
Treatment	[20] - [26]
Medical and allied reviews	[27] - [57]
Disabilities that remain	[58] - [60]